This lethal drug makes a discussion urgent, writes Dr. Richard Thatcher.

The dangers of fentanyl as a frequently used mood-modifying, recreational drug, on its own or laced into other opiates are gradually becoming well known.

The substance has recently gained a reputation as the Grim Reaper of illicit drugs. The number of deaths and near deaths originating with fentanyl use is simply shocking. Surely parents must initiate a serious discussion with their children and teens about this and other drug use. In this case, talk is, arguably, the primary preventive measure.

[continues 595 words]

MJPS call recent arrests a success, but more work still to be done

Crystal methamphetamine isn't a newcomer to the Friendly City, but it does seem to be getting better acquainted with it.

"It's a drug that's much more available than it was even five years ago," Cpl. Kevin Pilsworth of the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) said on Thursday. "In the past few years, we've really seen it make its way onto the map in Moose Jaw."

[continues 478 words]

City starts preparing for marijuana laws, which are likely to change in 2018.

The federal government is one year away from legalizing marijuana, but city council is already taking steps to prepare for the change.

On Tuesday, Ward 6 Coun. Blake Edwards brought forward a motion asking for city administrators to submit a report the potential implications of the new law. The report will cover issues like business licenses, grow-ops, operating hours and business locations.

Edwards says he's already fielding calls from residents inquiring about business licenses for when marijuana becomes legal, and he wants the city to be prepared when the day comes.

[continues 381 words]

"'It's a try-and-die drug': Fentanyl is suspected in weekend overdose death" (SP, May 9) documents our cruel and ineffective drug policy.

Overdose deaths are completely avoidable, as is the spread of AIDS and hepatitis C through drug use. These problems are caused by prohibition of drugs, not the drugs themselves.

Drug policies other than prohibition have been tried, studied, and shown to have great success, if success means fewer addicts and far less crime and corruption.

When prescription heroin was provided in Manchester, England, crime fell in some neighbourhoods by 80 per cent.

[continues 98 words]

The era of legal weed will require broad investments in public health, according to the Saskatchewan Medical Association.

Legislation alone is inadequate, president Dr. Intheran Pillay said.

"I think expanding the access to support services such as mental health and substance use services would be important. I think it would be important to expand access to training programs in addiction medicine and I think it's important to make extensive educational resources on the risks of harm to youth and others available, as well."

[continues 213 words]

It's been a long time coming and it's not here yet, but like the rest of the country, Moose Jaw is getting ready for the rollout of legalized marijuana.

"We were invited to provide input and participate in discussions," said Moose Jaw Police Chief Rick Bourassa, who has been representing Moose Jaw and Saskatchewan on committees in Ottawa on this issue.

"We'll see as this goes through Parliament, and when the laws are proclaimed, we'll be having more discussions about it."

[continues 237 words]

Minister says Ottawa has no plans for weed amnesty or freeze on enforcement

Saskatchewan pot smokers who get busted over the next 14 months aren't likely to receive much sympathy from the federal government, which maintains that the "law is the law until it's changed" on Canada's birthday next year.

The Liberal government won't offer amnesty to people convicted of simple possession of marijuana or encourage police departments to stop enforcing the law until the drug becomes legal, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told reporters on Friday.

[continues 323 words]

Dear editor,

If your objectives are to protect public health and safety, keep marijuana out of the hands of minors and cut illegal profits flowing to organized crime-then the law as it stands today has been an abject failure.

Law enforcement agencies in Canada spend an estimated $2-3 billion a year trying to fight pot, yet Canadian teenagers are among the heaviest users in the western world. And criminals walk away with $7-8 billion every year in illicit proceeds. We have to do better.

[continues 689 words]

Canadians will be able to celebrate this country's 151st birthday by legally lighting up a joint.

The federal government has introduced legislation to legalize marijuana by July 1, 2018, fulfilling one of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's election campaign promises. But there are still a lot of questions regarding the details of a legal pot industry.

Canada doesn't have a lot of international precedent to guide it. We will be just the second country in the world, after Uruguay, to fully legalize marijuana. It's decriminalized in some parts of the world, and legal in some American states, but countries as a whole have been leery about legalizing marijuana.

[continues 438 words]

When the federal government enacts legislation to legalize recreational marijuana next year, Ryan Murray hopes Saskatchewan sets the age limit at 19 - the province's legal drinking age.

"There shouldn't be an age difference," said Murray, co-owner of Cannabis Health Clinic in Regina. "From the research I've done, access to cannabis before the age of 21 isn't necessarily the best thing unless it's for medical purposes."

On Thursday, the federal government introduced the long-awaited bill to legalize marijuana. The suite of bills would establish 18 as the minimum legal age to buy pot. The new legislation will allow provinces, territories and municipalities to tailor rules for their jurisdictions.

[continues 543 words]

Officers from across the province, including in P.A. undergo training to help take those who are driving while impaired by drugs off the road

Police across the province learning how to identify drivers impaired by drugs A number of police officers from across Saskatchewan, including members of the Prince Albert Police Service, are receiving training to learn how to recognize drivers impaired by drugs.

Unlike impaired driving due to alcohol, there is no roadside-screening device which can indicate whether someone has been driving under the influence of a drug to the point where they have become impaired.

[continues 528 words]

Patrol group hopes similar fate awaits other notorious buildings

There have been many sombre walks through North Central for White Pony Lodge members in recent times, but on Thursday the neighbourhood patrol group was celebrating as a notorious local building was torn down.

With the city sending in a contractor to demolish the multi-unit dwelling at 1454 Angus St., Jan Morier and Shawna Oochoo met at the site and embraced as the longtime drug den was reduced to nothing.

"The number of times we have come to this property to try and clean it up? It's all worthwhile now to see that finally it's going to be cleaned up for good," Morier said.

[continues 328 words]

Friday mornings in the office tend to be a little bit slower, so we end up discussing a wide variety of topics. One topic of discussion, which was addressed were thoughts surrounding the legalization of marijuana.

The Liberals ran on a platform, which stated they would pursue this legalization. Although it hasn't been a priority in government, I do feel that it is something that would generate revenue for the government. Much like the Government of Saskatchewan has a liquor tax, the Government of Canada could impose one on marijuana sales.

[continues 537 words]

He's done four rotations helping law enforcement agencies combat the international drug trade in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

On Thursday, navy Lt.-Cmdr. Lucas Kenward was in Saskatoon to speak with local police and reservists about Canada's role in the fight.

"One of the key messages that I bring to police services is that the mission that we're doing ... while it is displaced by some 5,000 miles from here, it does have a direct impact," he said.

[continues 278 words]

Regulatory patchwork across Canada isn't helping anyone

I have never smoked marijuana. Until last week, I had no idea where one could purchase it. Then someone told me they were going to get their "green card" from a doctor. This would allow them to purchase marijuana for medicinal purposes. No pressing medical reason, they just wanted to buy weed.

As I asked around, I was told by many people who have them that the process is a joke. You go to a known doctor, give them an excuse for why you want it and they give it to you. Multiple people told me there was no examination or any probing into why they wanted it. They just got it. There are even websites that, for a fee, will tell you which doctors to see.

[continues 577 words]

Evert Botha promises his "unwavering support" for the project, and plans to lobby to make it a reality

Steps are in motion to bring a safe injection site to Prince Albert, as part of a comprehensive plan for treating infectious disease and drug addiction.

Councillor Evert Botha plans to push council to lend its approval to the initiative, which he says will reduce crime, take needles off the street and help vulnerable people.

"I will be asking my fellow councillors and the mayor that we support the establishment, as a city, of a supervised injection site," he said.

[continues 947 words]

Back in the day, when an indigenous person committed a serious crime - usually a murder or a sexual assault - elders and band leaders would determine if the person was a threat to the community; if so, he or she would be banished.

The safety and well-being of the band was paramount. This was a serious decision because it almost always meant death for the offender.

Back then, people lived together for co-operation and protection from wild animals and enemy tribes. The huge herds of buffalo were preyed on by fearsome predators. Packs of buffalo wolves - larger than timber wolves - followed the herds.

[continues 488 words]

Reporter's eerie experience in simulator suit

I felt like Jimmy Hoffa with one leg encased in cement.

I was lurching because of my super heavy left leg, which made it tough to walk and impossible to navigate in a straight line.

My ears buzzed with random sounds.

My double vision was blurry with flashing red, blue and green lights on the periphery.

If I shut one eye I could kind of focus on what was straight ahead. But barely.

When four tennis balls were lobbed my way, I was so uncoordinated and my reaction time so slow I couldn't catch one. My right arm chronically twitched and I could barely turn my neck or bend my elbows because of my restricted movement.

[continues 412 words]

Wide discussion needed on subject, say those in addictions field

Reginans are split on support of a safe injection site in the city, but it is unlikely such a service will be implemented anytime soon.

According to a Mainstreet/Postmedia poll released today, 41 per cent of respondents disapprove of a safe injection site being opened or operated in Regina, 39 per cent say they approve, and 20 per cent aren't sure.

The fentanyl-themed poll was conducted two weeks ago and surveyed 628 Regina residents with a margin of error of 3.91 per cent 19 times out of 20.

[continues 663 words]

Poll reveals few in Saskatoon back plan lauded by advocates

Jason Mercredi and other addictions workers who deal with the effects of unsupervised drug use say a safe injection site would bring many benefits to Saskatoon.

A facility where users can inject drugs safely would not only reduce the risk of overdoses, but cut the province's "unprecedented" HIV rate and reduce the burden on the provincial health-care system, AIDS Saskatoon's interim executive director said. "The reality is we need to adopt best practice, and B.C. has shown that best practice is a safe consumption site," Mercredi said, referring to the two precedent-setting safe injection clinics in Vancouver.

[continues 557 words]